E30 Zone

Planning a trip over to the 'Ring next year sometime (in my Subaru) and my mate was thinking of hiring a 530 D or something while over there. Then he looked at how much car rental costs!

So I thought instead, why not just buy an old E30 for under Ԛ£500, take it there and back again, and before and after just keep it as a daily driver.

So the question is, what would be best for this sort of thing? Not being a BMW expert I'm thinking a cheap 316 or even a 318 will be pretty gutless. But I keep seeing these 318is motors going for a fair amount of money. Am I right in thinking this is just a 16v 1.8 rather than 8v? In which case, what's the big deal? Do they have an LSD or something?

325's sound like they might be just the tool we need, but they seem to be fairly pricey.

Any advice on what's in budget or worth stretching the budget for? To be honest though, budget is the number one priority. If it's too pricey it's kind of defeating the object. Remember I know nothing really about E30s so I don't know what's realistic. It might be that an old 318 is a real ball of fire on the track.

you can sometimes get a bargain, perhaps get a little 325 needing a bit of tlc, and he can fix it, and have a nice little motor.

That's what I was thinking. I don't mind picking up a motor now, garaging it and fixing it up over the winter.

Renting cars to run on the ring isnt a good idea. Rental companies are getting wise to it and even check the photographer web sites to see if you have been on-track or not. You also often get a 7 seater bus rather than the 530D you priority ordered.

If you have any specific questions and havent already I suggest you join my forum, which is linked tio www.northloop.co.uk and we will do our best to help you.

Gary

Get a BMW e34 535i sport most come with slippers + 220bhp , can be bought for a few nundred notes.
If you strip it when your done you could make cash to. i.e sell leather , kit, wheels, engine for e30 conversion.

I know its not an e30 but LSD's cost approx 250 alone

is the lad with the 530d called dave???

Great minds think alike!

I'm heading to ring next year with a couple of mates and I've just bought a 318is for Ԛ£600 (inc. MOT & tax).
The insurance for a day at the ring was near Ԛ£500 on my 911 so I thought I'd buy a car for the money instead.
My car needs a bit of work over the winter but not too much.

The 318is has 136bhp over the standard 318's 120 along with disc brakes all round (vented at front) thicker anti roll bars and a few other bits and bobs. Some had the LSD but these tend to go for much more money.

If you find one with a good shell (little or no rust) and a strong engine then parts are relatively cheap.
Seems like the perfect track day hack/daily driver to me. - RWD, pretty strong and cheap.

Mine will be living there from March till November as long as its quicker than my current 205 which already lives there.